Jurgen Klopp backed Liverpool to solve their finishing woes as he insisted 'we are close to being a real challenger'.

The Reds were left frustrated after being held to a 1-1 draw at Newcastle on Sunday. Having begun September with such buoyancy, a run of one win in seven games has cranked up the pressure at Anfield.

Now, they enter the international break seventh in the Premier League table, with a game against Manchester United at Anfield next up. It already looks a huge one.

Klopp was aware he was going over old ground as he lamented his side's inability to take crucial, gilt-edged chances to kill a game off. Just as they had been in Moscow in midweek, Liverpool were wasteful at key times with Daniel Sturridge and Mohamed Salah particularly culpable.

Klopp, though, was prepared to keep seeking out the positives.

“It is rare that a season goes like this,” he said. “But all we need to do is we need to work.

“I really think it looks like we are not far away from being a real challenger. So if we do what we are good at, then we will score more goals, win more games and not have to think about other teams.